The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-04-26
THE STORY OF A TRAMP.
He Makes a Long Journey to Join
Brother i'm Omaha.
Unused to Western Ways He Il
Killed On the Way.

seeing among the prisoners two tramps
who, in addressing the court, used 9
broken dialect not often heard in such
places. One of them, John Schmidt
claimed to be Hungarian, He was
tall and well-built, with countenance
that did not indicate the depravity Oh
viciousness, or yet the cowed and
haunted look that characterizes the
genius tramp as a rule. The other,
John Kirschnak, claimed to be an
Austrian. He was large, powerful
young man, with physique that show.
ed strength, endurance, and a power to
accomplish any amount of manual
labor. He spoke very broken English,
but had countenance of an honest,
well meaning,
GOOD NATURED FELLOW.
The evidence in court showed that
the two men had been travelling
together, that they had been
arrested that morning while pre-
pairing their breakfast at
the side of the railroad track In the
southeast part of the city, this being
sort of rendezvous for tramps. At
ter bearing the evidence and the
statements IF the prisoners, who
claimed to be without money, Judge
Levens discharged them on condi-
ton that they should at once leave
town. In conversation with BAzoo
scribe after bis release, Kirschnak
stated that he had been a soldier
IN THE AUSTRIAN ARMY.
He was at home on a furlough or
rather as a member of the reserve.
when, the war talk, caused a likely
hood of the reserve being called into
duty for active service again. Hav.
ing no military aspirations Kirschnak
threw up his job in a brewery and
started to the sea coast with the inten-
tion of coming to America and joining
his brother, Wilhelm Kirschnak,
whom he said was merchant at
Omaha, Nebraska. When he started
he had in his possession what would
make about $3.50 in American money.
On his way out he was twice arrested
and it cost him about 500 to
REGAIN HIS FREEDOM.
Finally reaching the coast
and being unable to secure
a pass port he boarded an American
vessel in company with one of Its
sailors, who for $40 agreed to secrete
him until the vessel was at sea. On
the third day out he made his pres
ence known to the captain and told
his story, offering him $50 to bring
him TO America. The captain &C
cepted, and in due time Kirschnak was
landed at Castle Garden as an immi-
grant. His funds were low, but he
MANAGED To PURCHASE A TICKET
AS far as Cincinnati, Ohio. From
there he had Joined the great army of
tramps, and soon learned how to beat
his way by cross roads and railroads, |
always keeping his face to the west. |
Arrived at st. Louis, he again met |
misfortune, being arrested as vagrant |
he served thirty days in the work |
house. On his release, he again |
started west, and at Pacific City, fell
in with his companion Schmidt, from |
there they started west on foot.
AT CHAMoIs,
They slowed themselves away in
box car and reached Sedalia Wednes-
day night. They were preparing to
cave when they were again arrested.
''But | will get to my brother yet"
said Kirschnak, as he left.
Yesterday morning the BAzoo made
mention of the killing of a tramp at
Lamonte, and probably but for
Kirschnak's talk to the reporter
nothing would ever have been known
Is to his history. For it was Kirsch-
lak who was the victim. In company
With Schmidt and another compan-
on, picked up after leaving the po-
ice court, Kirschnak had slowed
himself away L
IN A BOX CAR
oaded with ties.
The ties were piled length
ways of the car with space between
hem and the end of the car, in this
Tacancy the tramps were slowed. In
Iue time the car started west. At
1amonte some switching was done. ,
The cars, as is often the case, were
flowed to come together very hard.
The concession drove one of the ties
gaInst Kirschpak head, pinning
to the end of the car and crushing :
ut his brains. His companion, {
was badly hurt. The other t
ramp escaped injury and gave the
larm. Poor Kirschnak was taken
ut quite dead and laid on the plat
orm. His tramu WAS ended hut he